Keyboard wear and tear

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pipspeak · #1 Post by **pipspeak** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 4:32 pm

has anyone had their T-series keyboard start to get prematurely rubbed smooth? My old T40 keyboard is fine but six months ago I bought an external IBM keyboard -- the one that's essentially a T-series keyboard with a numeric keypad -- and within 3-4 months two patches on the palmrest plus about half the key tops had already been rubbed smooth by my apparently very oily hands. I'd expect that to happen after a few years, not after a few months.

It was made in China, so I'm worried my Chinese-made T43 keyboard (if I get one on my new T43) will suffer the same fate. Has anyone experienced such rapid wear on a T43 keyboard?

JohnV · #2 Post by **JohnV** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:23 pm

I had the same issue with my t42 trackpad and keyboard. I called IBM and they sent me a new keyboard and trackpad under my warranty for no charge.

John

pipspeak · #3 Post by **pipspeak** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 9:59 pm

That's interesting. Did you have to send the unit (or the old keyboard) to IBM?

I was a bit disappointed... it's not that hard to make a plastic hard enough to withstand a bit of sweat. I guess I'll try to get a replacement external keyboard too. I think it has a year's warranty.

At least with a 3-year warranty I have a bit of time to get a replacement if I have the same problem with the T43.

simscitizen · #4 Post by **simscitizen** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:29 pm

This has happened on all my laptops, including a Thinkpad T20, Compaq Evo N600C, etc. My T43 still feels new but I'm sure it will be that way in a bit. I would expect it to happen after a bit of typing. It hardly effects the function of the keyboard, so I couldn't care less.

#5 Post by **K. Eng** » Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:31 pm

I've got a China keyboard on my T40. A few of the keys have been worn down over the past two years. Space, n, m,b, g, h, and a few others have lost their matte finish. I have both the palmrest with the touchpad and the palmrest without. Neither seems to have much (if any) wear on it.

Kenn · #6 Post by **Kenn** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:44 am

Happens with the Thai one as well. I type a lot, and within 2 months I could notice it wearing a bit, and now (over a year) quite a few keys along the home row have a mirror polish. Thankfully NONE of the letters have rubbed off yet, but I've seen some that have.

My old Model Ms and Omnikeys have been used for years and years, and have very little signs of wear at all.

pipspeak · #7 Post by **pipspeak** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:29 am

It's not so much the top of the keys that bothers me, but the two big, shiney, smooth patches on the palm rest. I've never had that happen before... it not only looks ugly but makes it too easy for your palms to slide around.

JHEM · #8 Post by **JHEM** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:01 am

pipspeak wrote:At least with a 3-year warranty I have a bit of time to get a replacement if I have the same problem with the T43.

"Normal wear and tear" is usually excluded from warranty coverage!

Regards,

James

JohnV · #9 Post by **JohnV** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 9:10 am

JHEM....I had my T42 for just under a year when I called about my keyboard and trackpad having wear issues. IBM happily replaced both of them without any issues at all. Since it was under a year since I had the unit I would call the wear abnormal and I am guessing that is why they replaced it for free.

John

pipspeak · #10 Post by **pipspeak** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 12:52 pm

It's definitely abnormal in the case of my external keyboard... I seem to have 2-years worth of wear and tear in four months.

2cool4u · #11 Post by **2cool4u** » Mon Aug 08, 2005 1:09 pm

my T42p keyboard lookes like this:
www.net-mania.ch/temp/glossythinkpad.jpg
This picture was taken after having the device for only 6 month.

My father's T40p which is much older looks still like new...

I don't care about the shiny look of my keys, but it also feels kind of dirty or oily, because its rubbed smooth.

Keyboard wear and tear

Keyboard wear and tear

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